Mile results (heats/timed finals):
4 Sarah Dimeco FR California 16:11.14
5 Anna Kalandadze FR California 16:12.01
9 Rachel Klinker FR California 16:26.26
10 Ashlyn Fiorilli FR California 16:32.92

(Freshman presence for Cal clearly very strong here, LOL.)

200 back:
1:55.23 for Courtney to win the B-final.
1:56.56 for Aislinn in 2nd.

A-final: Izzy rode the laneline pretty hard during her swim; led the heat at the 100 (out in 55), but Cook (Texas) had great underwaters at her 150 onwards to grab the lead without looking back.

(edit for times):
5 Keaton Blovad SR California 1:54.00 1:54.02
6 Alicia Wilson SO California 1:54.80 1:54.17
7 Izzy Ivey SO California 1:54.11 1:55.78

HBear said:

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Mile results (heats/timed finals):
4 Sarah Dimeco FR California 16:11.14
5 Anna Kalandadze FR California 16:12.01
9 Rachel Klinker FR California 16:26.26
10 Ashlyn Fiorilli FR California 16:32.92

(Freshman presence for Cal clearly very strong here, LOL.)

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Sarah and Anna are actually in NCAA scoring position now. I doubt Rachel swims the 1650 and should probably focus on the 200 Fly which I think is a better event for her.

HBear said:

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200 back:
1:55.23 for Courtney to win the B-final.
1:56.56 for Aislinn in 2nd.

A-final: Izzy rode the laneline pretty hard during her swim; led the heat at the 100 (out in 55), but Cook (Texas) had great underwaters at her 150 onwards to grab the lead without looking back.

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Yeah, Izzy really died on that last 100. She won't be swimming this event at NCAA anyways. Hoping to get more out of Keeks, but we will see. It would be awesome to see Courtney and Aislinn qualify for NCAAs in their senior year.

tedbear said:

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HBear said:

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200 back:
1:55.23 for Courtney to win the B-final.
1:56.56 for Aislinn in 2nd.

A-final: Izzy rode the laneline pretty hard during her swim; led the heat at the 100 (out in 55), but Cook (Texas) had great underwaters at her 150 onwards to grab the lead without looking back.

---

Yeah, Izzy really died on that last 100. She won't be swimming this event at NCAA anyways. Hoping to get more out of Keeks, but we will see. It would be awesome to see Courtney and Aislinn qualify for NCAAs in their senior year.

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Ditto on that. Had hoped to see Sophie in action at this meet after she qualified (finally beating the cut-off line!) last year, but hoping to wait and see on that.

100 free:
50.11- Emma takes C-final.
50.16 - Elise, second behind her.

49.56 - Maddie in the B-final.

Now to see what Abbey has up her sleeve after a taped-up swim last year!

46.52 for Abbey to win the 100 -- second-fastest time in the country and wins the event by about a second and a half.

1 Abbey Weitzeil SR California 46.52
5 Robin Neumann JR California 48.59
7 Ayla Spitz FR California 49.12
8 Eloise Riley FR California 49.79

= Day 4 Finals =

------

Massive respect & props to all the freshies who tackled some of the toughest doubles on the schedule - Rachel (Mile + 200 Fly), Ashlyn (Mile + 200 Fly), Sarah (Mile + 200 Fly), Anna (Mile + 200 Breast) !!!

Really impressed by Ema & Rachel's accomplishments here today as already mentioned in several preceding posts (amongst a number of other notables)

Onto some boring stats whilst we take a breather before the 400 Free Relay...note that I am including only the faster time out of finals or prelims from this meet:

------

1650 free
~ 2020 NCAA 'A' Standard = 15:52.41
~ 2019 NCAA scoring time = 16:03.64 (16th @ Timed Finals)
~ 2019 NCAA invite time = 16:14.21 (37th)
~ 2020 NCAA 'B' Standard = 16:30.59

• *** NCAA Scoring? ***

- n/a -

• +++ NCAA Invite? +++

- Sarah Dimeco: 16:11.14 (PB=16:09.74)
- Anna Kalandadze: 16:12.01 (old PB = 16:24.31) => New PB!

• === 'B' cut ===

- Rachel Klinker: 16:26.26 (old PB = 16:33.92) => New PB!
- Ashlyn Fiorilli: 16:32.92 (PB = 16:23.48)

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200 back
~ 2020 NCAA 'A' Standard = 1:50.50
~ 2019 NCAA scoring time = 1:53.07 (16th @ Prelims)
~ 2019 NCAA invite time = 1:54.01 (38th)
~ 2020 NCAA 'B' Standard = 1:57.11

• *** NCAA Scoring? ***

- n/a -

• +++ NCAA Invite? +++

- Keaton Blovad: 1:54.00 (PB = 1:51.73)

• === 'B' cut ===

- Izzy Ivey: 1:54.11 (PB = 1:54.11)
- Alicia Wilson: 1:54.17 (old PB = 1:54.51) => New PB!
- Courtney Mykkanen: 1:55.23 (PB = 1:54.36)
- Aislinn Light: 1:56.56 (PB = 1:56.27)

- Chloe Clark: 1:58.51 (PB = 1:56.79)

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100 free
~ 2020 NCAA 'A' Standard = 47.18
~ 2019 NCAA scoring time = 47.99 (16th @ Prelims)
~ 2019 NCAA invite time = 48.56 (39th)
~ 2020 NCAA 'B' Standard = 49.51

• *** NCAA Scoring? ***

- Abbey Weitzeil:46.52 (PB = 46.29) -> 'A' cut & #2 in the nation!

• +++ NCAA Invite? +++

- Robin Neumann: 48.51 (PB = 47.78)

• === 'B' cut ===

- Ayla Spitz: 49.12 (PB = 48.63)

- Eloise Riley: 49.77 (PB = 49.77)
- Maddie Murphy: 49.56 (PB = 48.22)
- Emma Davidson: 50.11 (old PB = 50.30) => New PB!
- Elise Garcia: 50.16 (PB = 49.45)

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200 breast
~ 2020 NCAA 'A' Standard = 2:06.84
~ 2019 NCAA scoring time [2:08.73 (16th @ Prelims)
~ 2019 NCAA invite time = 2:09.77 (38th)
~ 2020 NCAA 'B' Standard = 2:13.97

• *** NCAA Scoring? ***

- Ema Rajic: 2:08.23 (old PB = 2:10.47) -> New PB & #6= in the nation!

• +++ NCAA Invite? +++

- n/a -

• === 'B' cut ===

- Ali Harrison: 2:12.65 (PB = 2:10.21)

- Alexa Buckley: 2:14.99 (PB = 2:13.20)
- Anna Kalandadze : 2:18.69 (PB = 2:18.69)
- Natalie Tuck: 2:18.05 (PB = 2:16.28)
- Alexa Skorus-Neely: 2:23.98 (PB = 2:17.78)

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200 fly
~ 2020 NCAA 'A' Standard = 1:53.20
~ 2019 NCAA scoring time = 1:55.41 (16th @ Prelims)
~ 2019 NCAA invite time = 1:56.18 (37th)
~ 2020 NCAA 'B' Standard = 1:59.23

• *** NCAA Scoring? ***

- Rachel Klinker: 1:55.07 (old PB = 1:56.90) -> New PB & #8 in the nation!

• +++ NCAA Invite? +++

- n/a -

• === 'B' cut ===

- Sarah Darcel:1:57.65 (PB = 1:55.26)

- Cassidy Bayer: 1:59.43 (PB = 1:55.20)
- Ashlyn Fiorilli: 1:59.52 (PB = 1:57.23)
- Sarah DiMeco: 2:00.24 (PB = 1:57.22)
- Elizabeth Bailey: 2:01.35 (PB = 1:58.92)
- Elise Garcia: 2:03.89 (PB = 1:56.64)

------

McNeil leads Michigan's A relay off in 47.21, Izzy for Cal in 47.8.

The B relay looked very solid -- eager to see splits from the results.

Somewhat surprised to see Keeks join for the A relay squad. 3:10.99 for the win and top time in the country -- cheers to Izzy, Keaton, Robin, and Abbey for a stellar swim! All-around, leaving deeper analysis to my peers on the forum, I'm very impressed with the swims this week.

Ayla, Rachel, Sarah, and co., having great swims for their freshmen year, a new AR from Abbey, a great 200 BR from Ema, Alicia translating her recent LC success into strong 200/400 IMs SCY, and general top-to-bottom nice showing from the women. Go Bears!!

HBear said:

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In the 200 fly, no idea what happened to Cassidy off her last turn or during her last 25, but ouch.

---

It appeared her legs were losing strength. She was breathing laboriously while sitting on a judge's chair for 5 minutes after the race. Two trainers, one on each side, helped her walking off the deck, so hopefully that means she's ok.

HBear said:

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McNeil leads Michigan's A relay off in 47.21, Izzy for Cal in 47.8.

The B relay looked very solid -- eager to see splits from the results.

Somewhat surprised to see Keeks join for the A relay squad. 3:10.99 for the win and top time in the country -- cheers to Izzy, Keaton, Robin, and Abbey for a stellar swim!

---

Here's a quick peek at the splits (hope I have typed them in correctly :p) - Live Results not displaying the stats yet:

400 Free Relay
~ 2020 NCAA 'A' Standard = 3:14.61
~ 2020 NCAA 'B' Standard = 3:16.35

Cal 'A': 3:10.99 => 'A' cut & #1 in the nation! (#1 @ finals)
......Izzy (47.88), Keaton (47.66), Robin (48.34), Abbey (47.11)

Cal 'B': 3:16.75 (#4 @ finals)
......Emma (49.87), Ayla (49.42), Alicia (48.55), Maddie (48.91)

Cal 'C': 3:20.01 (#9 @ finals)
......Ema (50.01), Eloise (50.08), Chloe (50.03), Aislinn (49.89)


Oh Keeks has quite a serviceable freestyle in her, she's been on Cal's free relays in the past, it's part of what makes her such a good IM'er! (versatilty, like Izzy & Alicia)

Should add that Emma Davidson's 49.87 leadoff is a lifetime best for her (prev PB = 50.30), as is Ema Rajic's 50.01 (her former personal record = 50.18)

HBear said:

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Anyone else watching the live stream or happen to be at the meet? In the 200 fly, no idea what happened to Cassidy off her last turn or during her last 25, but ouch. Looked like she was swimming vertically for a bit in her last 25 after leading for most of the way.

1:55.07 from Rachel to grab second overall in the A-final. Really impressed with the freshmen's performances this meet!

---

It looked like she just went out too fast and just crashed at the end. The 200 Fly is the event that this most commonly happens. I saw Katie do this one time at a dual meet. She went from first to dead last in one lap. Very impressed with Klink.

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

---

HBear said:

---

McNeil leads Michigan's A relay off in 47.21, Izzy for Cal in 47.8.

The B relay looked very solid -- eager to see splits from the results.

Somewhat surprised to see Keeks join for the A relay squad. 3:10.99 for the win and top time in the country -- cheers to Izzy, Keaton, Robin, and Abbey for a stellar swim!

---

Here's a quick peek at the splits (hope I have typed them in correctly :p) - Live Results not displaying the stats yet:

400 Free Relay
~ 2020 NCAA 'A' Standard = 3:14.61
~ 2020 NCAA 'B' Standard = 3:16.35

Cal 'A': 3:10.99 => 'A' cut & #1 in the nation! (#1 @ finals)
......Izzy (47.88), Keaton (47.66), Robin (48.34), Abbey (47.11)

Cal 'B': 3:16.75 (#4 @ finals)
......Emma (49.87), Ayla (49.42), Alicia (48.55), Maddie (48.91)

Cal 'C': 3:20.01 (#9 @ finals)
......Ema (50.01), Eloise (50.08), Chloe (50.03), Aislinn (49.89)


Oh Keeks has quite a serviceable freestyle in her, she's been on Cal's free relays in the past, it's part of what makes her such a good IM'er! (versatilty, like Izzy & Alicia)

---

While I'm also surprised with Keeks on the 400 relay, the numbers prove Teri to be right. I think I'm more disappointed that Eloise isn't showing enough for Teri to include her on the relay. Eloise has such a beautiful long stroke, that I think it's only a matter of time before Teri molds her into a star. Robin and Abbey looked a little tired on that relay, and I think the times reflect that. Still number one in the nation though. So, did Abbey and Izzy swim on all the relays? They can't do that at NCAA, so I don't know why Teri is doing that here.

While in other Cal Swim news, Isa won the 200 Back at the US Open over two of her nemeses Phoebe Bacon and Alex Walsh. Backstroke reinforcements are coming!!!!

https://swimswam.com/2019-u-s-open-championships-day-4-finals-live-recap/

Ema Rajic swam to the No. 2 200-yard breaststroke time in school history Saturday.

Cal Completes Relay Sweep In Minnesota

• Results

MINNEAPOLIS - Senior Abbey Weitzeil won her third individual race and Cal finished off a sweep of the relay events with a victory in the 400-yard free relay, as the Golden Bears completed four days of events Saturday at the Minnesota Invitational.

Weitzeil set an American record in the 50 free Thursday (20.90) and captured the 200 free Friday (1:42.25). On Saturday, she came within an eyelash of the Cal record in the 100 free when she won in 46.52, missing the mark by a mere 0.17 seconds and good for the No. 2 time in the country. Weitzeil led four Bears in the A final, as Robin Neumann was fifth (48.59), Ayla Spitz seventh (49.12) and Eloise Riley eighth (49.79).

The 400 free relay closed out the meet and the foursome of Isabel Ivey, Keaton Blovad, Neumann and Weitzeil posted a time of 3:10.99, which rates as the fastest in the country this year. The win made Cal 5-for-5 on relays with earlier victories in the 200 and 800 free relays and the 200 and 400 medley relays. The Bears rank first or second among NCAA schools in each race.

In the 1650 free, freshmen Sarah DiMeco and Anna Kalandadze posted sixth and seventh fastest times in school history, respectively. DiMeco finished the distance event in 16:11.14, good for fourth place on the afternoon, while Kalandadze was fifth in 16:12.01. Both of their marks place them among the top 20 in the country this season.

Sophomore Ema Rajic put up a personal-best time during her runner-up finish in the 200 breaststroke, touching the wall in 2:08.23, which makes her the No. 2 performer in Cal history behind only Caitlin Leverenz's 2012 school record of 2:04.76. It's also ties her for sixth nationally this season. In addition. Ali Harrison was fourth in 2:12.65.

Rachel Klinker, who swam to ninth place in the 1650 free earlier in the day, took second in the 200 butterfly in 1:55.07 to become the eight-best performer in the country this year. Sarah Darcel claimed the B final in 1:57.65.

Senior Keaton Blovad led three Bears in the final of the 200 back with a fifth-place finish in 1:54.02. Alicia Wilson was sixth in 1:54.17 and Isabel Ivey seventh in 1:55.78. In addition, Courtney Mykkanen earned first place in the B final in 1:55.23.

Briana Thai had a strong result in platform diving, taking third place with 227.60 points, her highest score in the event in two years. Freshman Graham was 10th with 189.05 points.

Overall, Cal captured the Minnesota Invitational team title with 1,158.5 points. Michigan was second with 813.5 and Texas third with 586. Arizona, Minnesota, Harvard and Iowa rounded out the field.

The Bears will remain in Minneapolis for a long-course time trial on Sunday before returning to Berkeley to host San Jose State on Dec. 21 at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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WHAT WAS THE SECRET TO ABBEY WEITZEIL'S 20.90 50 FREE? (VIDEO)


In a feat never done before, Abbey Weitzeil, became the first woman ever under twenty-one seconds in the 50-yard freestyle. But How? Current photo via Jack Spitser/Spitser Photography

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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Ema Rajic swam to the No. 2 200-yard breaststroke time in school history Saturday.


The Bears will remain in Minneapolis for a long-course time trial on Sunday before returning to Berkeley to host San Jose State on Dec. 21 at Spieker Aquatics Complex.

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Don't have the specifics at this point, but anyway massive congratulations to Ema on achieving her Croatian *National Record* in the 100m Breast just now!

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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Don't have the specifics at this point, but anyway massive congratulations to Ema on achieving her Croatian *National Record* in the 100m Breast just now!

---

Thanks to swimmer19, here are the LCM time trials results:
https://mgoblue.com/documents/2019/12/8/20191208_sd_minnesota_long_course.pdf

Ema had lowered her prevous personal best of 1:09.62 in the 100m Breast to 1:08.93

------

2020 Olympic trial cuts were achieved by the following (not counting Alicia & Ema), some of whom may have earned their cuts previously:

* 100m Back *
Ayla - 1:01.75 (old best was a 1:02.44 relay lead-off from 2018 Jr Nationals)
Aislinn - 1:02.61 (old best was 1:03.48 from June 2016)

* 100m Free *
Izzy - 55.17 (PB = 54.95 from 2016 Jr Pan Pacs)

* 100m Fly *
Izzy - 1:00.22 (PB = 59.29 from 2018 Nationals)

* 50m Free *
Abbey - 24.70 (PB = 24.28 from 2016 Oly Trials)

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• Now reported by SS:

MACNEIL 57.2 100 FLY, WEITZEIL 24.7 50 FREE HIGHLIGHT MINNESOTA LCM TIME TRIALS

------

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NCAA Swimming Meets of the Week: Texas Men, Cal Women Make Huge Statement in Minnesota



Minnesota Invite: Is This The Year for the Cal Women?

It finally happened. Cal senior Abbey Weitzeil became the first woman to ever break 21 seconds from a flat start in the 50 free with a 20.9 on Thursday night. It has been a long time coming for Weitzeil, who had the American record of 21.12 set the year before she even got to Cal in March 2016. There was a lot of hype around Weitzeil, having set the American record in the 100 free as a high school senior in December 2014. She followed that up with a trip to the Olympic Games in 2016 after she had deferred her enrollment at Cal by a year.

She struggled in her first two years at Cal, not winning an individual NCAA title in either the 50 or 100 free despite being one of the fastest women in history in both events. Weitzeil turned that around her junior season when she won the 50 free NCAA title with a 21.02, becoming oh-so-close to being the first woman to break 21 from a flat start. It was something she had expected of herself and even her coach Terri McKeever tried to incentivize her by saying she would get a tattoo if Weitzeil got under.

Alas, it didn't happen last season, but she was still happy with the win. Weitzeil experienced more adversity though when she hyperextended her elbow in the 200 medley relay final at NCAAs, having to swim the 100 free and 400 free relay in an arm brace on the last day. It didn't matter too much since she still wound up fourth in the 100 and anchored the 400 free relay to a new American record.

Cal ended up finishing second at NCAAs last year, a mere 37 points behind arch rival Stanford. It felt like that was Cal's best shot at a national title with the core group of Weitzeil, Katie McLaughlin and Amy Bilquist leading the bulk of their team to three relay titles. McLaughlin and Bilquist have moved on to pro careers, leaving Weitzeil as the alpha dog this season.

But Cal's performance at the Minnesota Invite has put them as the number one team in the country thanks to the emergence of swimmers like Izzy Ivey, Alicia Wilson and Ema Rajic. Ivey came up huge at NCAAs last year by getting in two A-Finals and has not skipped a beat this season, putting up top eight times in the 100 fly, 100 back and 200 IM. In the 200 IM at Minnesota, she actually tied for the win with teammate Wilson as the pair put up identical 1:54.68's. Wilson is also ranked in the top eight in the 400 IM nationally, and Rajic is in the top eight in both breaststrokes.

As of this weekend, the Cal women have at least one swimmer ranked in the top eight in every single individual event but the 500 and 1650. With that depth and the nation's top sprinter (Weitzeil), is this the year Cal can finally take down Stanford? We still have a long ways to go until NCAAs, but the Cal women definitely sent a message to the rest of the country that they are not to be messed with.

Cal had the nation's top time in the three freestyle relays thanks to the prowess of Weitzeil, who swam on all five of the Bears' relays.

NCAA Swimming Meet of the Week: Nation-Leading Times Done at Minnesota Invite:

• 50 free: Abbey Weitzeil, Cal, 20.90 (American record)
• 100 fly: Maggie MacNeil, Michigan, 49.26 (NCAA record)
• 200 free relay: Ivey, Riley, Murphy, Weitzeil, Cal, 1:27.14
• 400 free relay: Ivey, Blovad, Neumann, Weitzeil, Cal, 3:10.99
• 800 free relay: Spitz, Ivey, Neumann, Weitzeil, Cal, 6:56.00

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HERE ARE THE 10 SWIMMERS WHO IMPRESSED US MOST LAST WEEKEND

ABBEY WEITZEIL

One of the most impressive things a swimmer can do is break a second barrier in a 50 free (for example, breaking 20 in the 50 free for the first time, or 19, or even 18).

Cal senior Abbey Weitzeil did just that, becoming the first female 20-point 50 freestyler in history.

She won the 50 free at the 2019 Minnesota Invitational with a 20.90 to a raucous reception from the crowd and her Golden Bear teammates, a feat of pure speed, strength, and power.

And, while her other freestyle swims were very fast, this writer was second-most impressed by her 51.66 in the 100 back.

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California All-Time Top 10 List (Dec 9, 2019)


50-Yard Freestyle
#1. Abbey Weitzeil .........................................20.90..............2020

1000-Yard Freestyle
#6. Anna Kalandadze .................................9:46.58..............2020
10. Sarah DiMeco ....................................9:48.78..............2020

1650-Yard Freestyle
#6. Sarah DiMeco ....................................16:11.14..............2020
#7. Anna Kalandadze ...............................16:12.01..............2020

200-Yard Breaststroke
#2. Ema Rajic ............................................2:08.23..............2020

200-Yard Individual Medley
#8. Alicia Wilson ........................................1:54.68..............2020

400-Yard Individual Medley
#6. Alicia Wilson ........................................4:07.51..............2020

400-Yard Free Relay
10. Isabel Ivey (47.88), Keaton Blovad (47.66), Robin Neumann (48.34), Abbey Weitzeil (47.11) .....3:10.99 ......2020

200-Yard Medley Relay
#8. Keaton Blovad (24.04), Ema Rajic (27.26), Maddie Murphy (23.38), Abbey Weitzeil (20.56) ......1:35.24 ......2020

400-Yard Medley Relay
10. Keaton Blovad (52.22), Ema Rajic (59.17), Isabel Ivey (51.13), Abbey Weitzeil (46.06) ..........3:28.58 ......2020

3-Meter Diving
#3. Briana Thai ...........................................334.00..............2020


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2019-20 California Season-Best List (Dec 9, 2019)


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Looks like Robin will be jetting back to the Netherlands to compete in the Swim Cup Amsterdam this weekend. Here are her seeding for the 3 events that Neumann's entered in:

Robin - 200m Free (#6), 400m Free (#13), 100m Free (#15)


Several other Bears are slated to race this meet:

Hugo - 200m IM (#1), 200m Back (#2), 100m Back (#4), 400m IM (#9)

Marina - 200m Breast (#2), 100m Breast (#8), 50m Breast (#9), 200m IM (#19)

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SWIM CUP AMSTERDAM WELCOMES SPANISH, SWISS, BRITISH & MORE TO OLYMPIC QUALIFIER

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UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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bearchamp said:

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Does this poll mean anything? Stanford at sixth??????? How can this be so far from reality on the likely finish of the season???

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Not much - as far as I'm concerned at any rate :p

Just provides whoever's ranked at or near the top at the time some suitable ammunition for their media relations team to promote their programme basically...

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Er, reckon tis now Bears' turn to tell the story, to tell the whole wide world this is Bear Territory!

Still stand by my original sceptical remark over the value of this CSCAA coaches' poll TBH lol...but heck, this latest ranking for Cal is for once pretty in line with reality IMO and so very well deserved, so we'll all happily accept the #1 vote & the corresponding gushing accolades for the womens' team & coaches - well done!

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Cal Women Take Over Top Spot; Texas Men Lead in December CSCAA Division I Poll




The season's halfway mark has passed and the December TYR / CSCAA Division I Poll is out. In addition to dual meet results, the committee also reviewed mid-season invitationals before casting their ballots. The University of Texas men maintain their number-one ranking while the University of California women regain their position at the top.

California women finish 2019 in the top spot, earning 12 of the 13 number one votes. After a strong showing and winning the Tennessee Invitational, the Lady Vols remain second this month. Virginia moved up one spot to third, Stanford takes a two spot leap to fourth and Michigan climbs 13 spots (the biggest movement in the polls) to round out the top five on the women's side.

Women's CSCAA Division I Poll (Previous Rank)

• 1. California (3)
• 2. Tennessee (2)
• 3. Virginia (4)
• 4. Stanford (6)
• 5. Michigan (18)
• 6. NC State (7)
• 7. Florida (1)
• 8. Georgia (8)
• 9. Southern California (10)
• 10. Texas (5)
• 11. Louisville (12)
• 12. Missouri (9)
• 13. Kentucky (15)
• 14. Auburn (13)
• 15. Indiana (16)
• 16. North Carolina (23)
• 17. Alabama (NR)
• 18. Ohio State (14)
• 19. Texas A&M (20)
• 20. Duke (11)
• 21. Arizona State (NR)
• 22. Arizona (NR)
• 23. Houston (21)
• 24. Minnesota (21)
• 25. Northwestern (24)

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CAL WOMEN SURGE TO #1 IN DEC. 11 CSCAA DUAL MEET POLL; TEXAS MEN STILL LEAD



The California women overtook Florida in what's been a tumultuous season for CSCAA rankings. Three different programs have held #1 women's ranks across four rounds of the poll.

Former #1 Florida has fallen all the way to #7, while Cal rose from #3 to take their spot at the top.

The men's side is the polar opposite, with #1 Texas and #2 Cal maintaining their spots, which both programs have held since November. Prior to that, Cal was #1 and Texas #2 for the first two rounds of rankings.

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Cal women's swim and dive ranked No. 1 by CSCAA



---------

Cal women's swim and dive emerges victorious in first test of season

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2019-2020 NCAA WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING POWER RANKINGS: DECEMBER EDITION



#5: NC STATE WOLFPACK (-1)
No team has appeared to have as much long course/short course split focus this fall as NC State, which sent a lot of its top stars to U.S. Open last week. Even with that split focus, NC State is fifth in the Swimulator. The key is going to be getting Ky-Lee Perry back on track. The standout sprinter didn't compete much this fall and has been off her mid-season bests from a year ago. -JA

#4: TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (+2)
Erika Brown is on fire, there's no doubt about it. Can UT climb into the top three? Certainly; the key may lie in Kaitlin Harty returning to full form in the backstroke. -KO
Tennessee has consistently impressed this fall, and they rank #3 in the Swimulator. Erika Brown was a high school mid-distance freestyler; could she return to her roots with the 200 free over the 100 fly this spring? The former event is much more wide open than the latter, and Brown currently leads the nation. -JA

#3: VIRGINIA CAVALIERS (-)
Those medley relays are something special. UVA has a swimmer ranked in the top 8 in current Swimulator projections in all but five events, and they have a projected scorer in all but one. Swimmer to watch: Abby Richter, who scored 5 NCAA points last year but is projected at 13 currently after lifetime-bests in the 200 fly (1:55.32) and 400 IM (4:10.88) at mid-season). -JA
Kate Douglass won't stop impressing. Paige Madden is an absolute force. Morgan Hill is a relay hero. But the real kicker is the UVA medley relays, which are, excuse my French, simply disgusting right now. The depth could come through to make it interesting with the Bay Area teams, but we haven't quite seen it yet. -KO

#2: STANFORD CARDINAL (-1)
I've been a pretty hardline Stanford truther this year, but I'm a lot less confident than I've been, based on how Cal swam at mid-season. A key reason I'm keeping Stanford at #1? Current Swimulator projections have two of five Stanford relays outside of scoring range, and I just don't see that happening at NCAAs. -JA
I'm tentative to put Stanford down a notch, but while they will almost certainly exude much more power come March, one luxury will not be afforded to this team: a truly elite sprint freestyler. When they lost Simone Manuel, Taylor Ruck stepped up to the plate; can anyone replace Ruck, though? It doesn't look like it yet. And the sprint strokers will need to pick it up to compete with the advancements we're seeing in events like the 100 fly and 100 back. -KO

#1: CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (+1)
The Cal women are the only team over 300 on the current Swimulator projections at 354.5, and while things will inevitably shift over the back-half of the season, this isn't one team's meet to lose anymore. In an effort not to try to leave too much to 'how things will end up shaking out,' Cal looks the best right now. To look back to historical context, though, they definitely have more in the tank. -KO
Cal is making a strong push for top team status. They've got the runaway best sprinter in the field, and that's going to count for a lot on relays come March. -JA

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Bears, Spartans Close Out 2019

Cal Hosts San Jose State At Legends Aquatic Center Saturday Morning

No. 1-ranked Cal closes out the calendar year with what has become an annual occurrence - hosting San Jose State in a unique dual meet that features such events as the 300-yard backstroke relay, a 300-yard individual medley swum in reverse order, and a 150-yard breaststroke. Only the 50 free and 1-meter and 3-meter diving will be "regular" events. This year's meet begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at Legends Aquatic Center, and admission is free.

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Cal women's swim and dive to wrap up decade at home against San Jose State



Despite ranking No. 1 in the nation, the Bears are not going to simply rest on their laurels. "It's a great testament to the work the teams put in so far this year but we're definitely not going to sit back on it," said Cal assistant coach Dani Korman. "I think the team has really earned it, but also it doesn't define the end of the year - and we still have to perform in February and March, so we're excited by it but hopefully it's just a big motivator for us to keep that position throughout the rest of the year."

Since the beginning of the decade, expectations for the Bears remain sky-high. "There's a lot that can be achieved for the rest of the year but the work is definitely not done - and after they (San Jose State) go home for about a week we head to Hawaii to put in some good training there and grow as a team. Who knows what lies ahead, but I think they set themselves up really well to have a great second half of the year," Korman said.

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Abbey Weitzeil Leading Wave Of Pioneering Barrier-Breakers in Women's Swimming



Excerpt here: "I wasn't really expecting to do that at this meet. I was more focused on trying to go as close as I could to my best times. After prelims, I was shocked with a 21.1, so I thought I might be able to go for it," Abbey Weitzeil told Swimming World. "It was cool to take that step for women in sports and break that huge barrier. To be the first woman to do that is pretty amazing."

Cheers, Abbey!

UrsusArctosCalifornicus said:

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Bears, Spartans Close Out 2019

Cal Hosts San Jose State At Legends Aquatic Center Saturday Morning

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Among the events in the Cal-SJSU dual meet were the 300-yard backstroke, breaststroke and butterfly relays.

Cal Tops San Jose State In Unique Dual

Bears, Spartans Close Out 2019 With Series Of Unusual Events

• Swimming Results
• Diving Results

HBear said:

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2019-2020 NCAA WOMEN'S SWIMMING & DIVING POWER RANKINGS: DECEMBER EDITION

#5: NC STATE WOLFPACK (-1)

#4: TENNESSEE VOLUNTEERS (+2)

#3: VIRGINIA CAVALIERS (-)

#2: STANFORD CARDINAL (-1)

#1: CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BEARS (+1)

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SWIMULATOR MID-SEASON TITLE PREDICTIONS

The Swimulator aggregates all the top in-season times and then predicts an invite-style meet based off of the top results in each event. It respects team and swimmer event limits and tries to reasonably select events for swimmers entered in multiple. It doesn't include diving results.

DI WOMEN | 2020 MID-SEASON

California | 351.5
Tennessee | 282.5
Virginia | 263
Michigan | 242
NC State | 234
Georgia | 211
Stanford | 191.5
Southern Cali | 185
Texas | 165
Auburn | 103
Louisville | 68
Indiana | 54
Texas A&M | 32.5

On the women's side, The University of California has a solid lead, but there are a number of teams clustered close behind. We don't appear to be in a repeat of last year's tight title competition between Cal and Stanford as Stanford has dropped off considerably from where they were at this point last season. While we shouldn't consider the race to be wide open with Cal clearly the favorite, there is still much yet to be determined.


To use these results to predict the end-of-season results, we'd like to try and take into account teams that tend to taper more heavily during the mid-season invites from those that taper less. To do so, we'll take a look at where the Swimulator predicted NCAA teams after last year's mid-season taper meets and how those compared to how they finished at the end of the season.

DI WOMEN | 2020 MID-SEASON | 2019 MID-SEASON | 2019 FINAL | ADJUSTMENT | PREDICTION

California | 351.5 | 285.5 | 394.5 | 109 | 406
Virginia | 263 | 47.5 | 163 | 115.5 | 320.75
Tennessee | 282.5 | 251 | 250.5 | -0.5 | 282.25
Stanford | 191.5 | 299 | 419 | 120 | 251.5
Michigan | 242 | 319 | 307.5 | -11.5 | 236.25
NC State | 234 | 211.5 | 211.5 | 0 | 234
Georgia | 211 | 95 | 69 | -26 | 198
Southern Cali | 185 | 237 | 188 | -49 | 160.5
Auburn | 103 | 67 | 166 | 99 | 152.5
Texas | 165 | 309.5 | 141.5 | -168 | 81
Louisville | 68 | 208 | 205.5 | -2.5 | 66.75
Indiana | 54 | 175 | 162.5 | -12.5 | 47.75
Texas A&M | 32.5 | 133 | 141.5 | 8.5 | 36.75

However, on the women's side, Cal, Virginia, and Stanford all improved considerably from mid-season to the end-of-year last year. With the adjustments, Cal now shows a even more sizeable lead, with Virginia in second behind them. Even with a strong end-of-year finish, the losses of top swimmers Ella Eastin and Taylor Ruck is a lot for Stanford to make up from last season to consider them in the title hunt.

For the women, the Swimulator predicts Cal with a solid but not dominant 40% title chance at this point in the season.

HBear said:

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Abbey Weitzeil Leading Wave Of Pioneering Barrier-Breakers in Women's Swimming

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ULTRA SWIM SWIMMER OF THE MONTH: ABBEY WEITZEIL, CAL

Pac-12 announces women's Swimmer and Diver of the Month



SAN FRANCISCO - The Pac-12 Conference office announced today that Abbey Wetizeil of CALIFORNIA was named Pac-12 Women's Swimmer of the Month and USC's Nike Agunbiade was voted Pac-12 Women's Diver of the Month for December 2019.


WOMEN'S SWIMMER OF THE MONTH: Abbey Weitzeil, Sr., California (Saugus, Calif.)

Weitzeil won three individual events and anchored four relay titles at the Minnesota Invitational from Dec. 4-7. She lowered her American record in the 50-yard freestyle to 20.90, becoming the first woman ever to swim the event in under 21 seconds. She leads the country in the 50 free and ranks second in both the 100 free and 200 free. In addition, she helped the Golden Bears' three free relays to the top time in the nation, posting a 1:27.14 finish in the 200, a 3:10.99 finish in the 400, and 6:56.00 in the 800. She also helped California to the NCAA's No. 2 times in the medley relays - with times of 1:35.24 (200) and 3:28.58 (400) - making it the only team with all of its relays ranked among the top 5. Weitzeil was previously named Pac-12 Swimmer of the Month in November 2017.


WOMEN'S DIVER OF THE MONTH: Nike Agunbiade, Fr., USC (Hillsborough, Calif.)

ALSO NOMINATED: Delaney Schnell, Arizona; Briana Thai, California.

Will the team be going to Hawaii for their annual workout? Looking forward to some pictures from the other side of the Pacific!

OBear073akaSMFan said:

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Will the team be going to Hawaii for their annual workout? Looking forward to some pictures from the other side of the Pacific!

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That's the time-honoured tradition, so one may expect the mid-winter training trip to commence sometime this coming week?

Although it does appear that Teri, Abbey & Katie McL at least were recently/are presently up at the OTC, where I believe the bros are currently training (as are the furdettes)...whilst most of the women's team are back in the Bay Area...